Door closer cover



Oct. 12, 1965 s. P. PATRIQUIN 3, 7

DOOR CLOSER COVER Filed NOV. 27, 1963 IN VENTOR. @[0/962 PAr P M BY WM 5W United States Patent 3,211,317 DOOR CLOSER COVER George P. Patriquin, Gardener, Mass., assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corpora- 'tion of Massachusetts Filed Nov. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 326,431 2 Claims. (Cl. 2204) This invention relates to a door closer device, and more particularly to a device for covering the operating mechanism of a door closer. Still more particularly, this invention relates to an ornamental cover and fastener structure for masking a door closer.

In accordance with customary practice, a door closer is mounted on a door, linkage connecting the closure to the door frame being provided. conventionally, the closer housing is provided with some sort of decorative finish. However, since the closer is .adapted to be used in rooms having varying decors, it is desirable that the housing be separate from the cover so that it is not necessary to stock closers having a plurality of finishes but, rather, that it be possible to stock a variety of covers having different finishes, which covers are adapted to be received over the door closer housing.

The provision of a closer housing with a separate cover presents peculiar problems as contrasted with structure covering elements conventionally employed in other applications. First, the cover is subjected to the constant movement and jarring influences associated with the opening and closing of a door. Second, since the cover is mounted on a moving door, rattling between the cover and the housing must be avoided. Third, since the closer is normally mounted considerably above eye level, its usual location being at the top of a door, it is not readily accessible for complex manipulative steps and it is thus desirable that the cover be easily mountable by the ordinary householder without the necessity for using tools, such as screw drivers, wrenches, etc.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a cover and fastener assembly therefor particularly adapted for use with a door closer assembly. It is a further object of the invention to provide a cover and fastener device for a door closer assembly whereby a shell or cover for the housing of the door closer assembly may be readily applied and removed, without the use of tools.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a cover and fastener assembly for a door closer of the type described wherein the cover is securely mounted in non-rattling fashion over the housing and yet is readily removable and replaceable without the use of tools.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a door and door frame to which is applied a door closer assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view from the rear, of a door closer housing cover plate and fastener assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a magnified, sectional view of a fastener assembly in accordance with the invention, showing the position of the parts as the cover is being shifted to assembled position over the housing;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the final assembled position of the cover over the housing;

FIGURE 5 is a magnified perspective view of a retainer washer in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with the invention a door closer assembly 10, which may be of any conventional design, is mounted in the usual manner to a door 11. The output 3,211,317 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 or drive shaft 12 of the closer assembly is connected through any standard linkage 13 to the frame 14 of the door, it being understood that, in the usual manner, movement of the door with respect to the frame stores energy within the closer mechanism and when the door is released, the stored energy, acting through the linkage 13 and a suitable damping mechanism effects a controlled closing of the door. The invention is in no way directed to the mechanism of the closer.

The housing of the closer is provided with mounting holes 20 or other equivalent means, through which fastener elements, such as screws, bolts or the like, may be passed for anchoring the back plate 21 of the housing to the door 11.

From the upper surface 22 of the housing there are pro jected a spaced pair of studs 25, 25. The studs 25 include a shank 26 which is optionally but preferably serrated, as shown at 26a, on the peripheral lower side portions. The serrations 26a on the shank 26 serve to maintain the studs 25 in the bores 27 formed in the closer assembly 10, it being understood that when the studs are driven into the bores 27, the shank 26 provides a force fit within the bores. It will be understood that other methods of maintaining the studs within the closer housing may be employed.

The studs 25, at their upper ends, are provided with headed portions having downwardly directed shoulders 29. Before driving the studs 26 into their complemental bore holes, there are mounted on the studs, retaining washers 30, the washers 30 being comprised of a deformable, resilient material with good memory characteristics. Nylon is a preferred example of such a material, although it should be understood that other resilient materials of both plastic and metal are suitable.

The retainer washers 30 include a central aperture 31. The washer portions 32 adjacent the central aperture slope or are directed downwardly, terminating in a lower circular apex 33. The washer slopes upwardly and outwardly from the apex 33 to the rim, defining a camming wall portion 34. V

The washer is applied with the upper portion of the aperture 31 adjacent and engaging the under-shoulder 29 of a stud 25. Preferably, the depth of the bore hole 27 and the washer 26 of the stud are so coordinated that when the stud is driven home within the stud bore hole, the apex portion 33 is urged gently against, or is lightly pressed against the upper edge 22 of the housing surrounding the stud.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the apex 33 of the washer describes a circular locus of contact with the upper edge 22 of the housing, and that all portions of the apex are surrounded by upwardly and outwardly sloping portions 34.

The cover assembly 35 for the housing comprises a metal shell dimensioned to accommodate therewithin and cover the door closer assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover and assembly are generally rectangular since the housing shown is substantially oblong in shape.

The upper portion of the cover is provided with a central cutout 40 to provide clearance for the operating shaft 12 and associated elements which project above the upper surface 22 of the housing.

The cover 35, on the uppermost portion, includes a pair of inturned flaps or flanges 41, 41, provided with transverse slots 42, 42. The portions of the slots 42, 42 opening to and adjacent the rearmost edges 43, 43 of the flaps 41 are widened, presenting inwardly narrowing entry portions 44.

The manner of attachment of the cover to the housing will be evident from the ensuing description.

After the door closer is applied to the door, the cover 35 is applied by pressing the cover 35 rearwardly toward the surface of the door, with the slots 42 approximately aligned with the studs 25. It will be readily understood that the widthwise dimension of the slots 42 is greater than the corresponding dimension of the upper portion of the shank 26 of the studs but less than the diameter of the circle defined by the locus of engagement of the apex portions 33 of the retaining washers 30.

The application of the cover over the door closer is greatly facilitated by the shapes of both the slots 42 and the entry portions 44, and particularly by the shape of the retaining washer 30. It will thus be recognized that if the flaps 41, 41 are disposed at a height slightly greater than the level of the upper edge 22 of the housing, the downward components of the cam faces 34 of the washers will serve to deflect the cover downwardly into the proper position. Similarly, the broadened entry portions 44, 44' of the slots will tend to center the cover longitudinally as respects the door closer assembly. Preferably, as best shown in FIGURE 3, the breadth or transverse spacing of the portions 44 as they join the leading edge 43, is fireater than the diameter of the circle defined by the apex 33 of the retaining washer.

As the cover is further slid rearwardly toward the door surface, the cam surfaces 34 of the retaining washer will first engage the entry portions 44 of the slot and thereby serve to cam the apex portions 33 of the washer upwardly away from the upper edge 22 of the closer assembly. The upward camming of the washers is facilitated by the compound cam surface presented by the engagement of cammed walls 34 and the angular entry portions 44.

It will be understood that where the narrower or inner portions 42 of the slot are aligned beneath the apex portion 33, as shown in FIGURE 4, the washer will be compressed and will thus bias the cover tightly against the housing.

The complemental cam and centering surfaces of the washer and slots, as above described, will greatly facilitate application of the cover. This centering action is an important feature since the cover will normally be applied by a person reaching well above his head and thereby not in a position accurately to center the respec tive components.

The use of retainer washers of a nylon type plastic is greatly preferred since the constant resilient pressure which will be applied by such material will prevent any rattling of the cover and housing. If desired, the inner surface of the cover may be provided with portions or segments of felt or like cushioning materials, further to offset any tendency of the structure to rattle.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the cover may be readily removed when the door is to be painted or for other reasons, by sliding the cover away from the door edge.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A door closer assembly comprising a housing for mounting on a door, a spaced pair of headed stud members secured to said housing, with the headed portions thereof spaced from a surface of said housing, an annular retainer washer of nylon type plastic mounted on each said stud member, with the headed portions of said studs bearing against portions of said washers, said washers each comprising dished resilient annular members including an annular apex portion urged into resilient contact with the surface of said housing surrounding said stud and cam portions extending outwardly beyond said apex portions and sloping gradually outwardly and upwardly away from said surface, and a decorative cover for said housing insertable endwise into assembled position over said housing, said cover having a pair of slots spaced to correspond to the spacing of said studs opening onto an edge of said cover, the transverse spacing of the walls defining said slots being greater than the thickness of said stud members and less than the spacing of the apex portions of said washers.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transverse spacing of the walls defining said slots at said edge of said cover is greater than the transverse spacing of said walls inwardly of said edge, and said walls converge gradually from said greater to said lesser transversely spaced portions, whereby said gradually converging walls coact with said studs and washers to center said cover on said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,063 6/26 Fondo 15l38 1,950,552 3/34 Hansen 2204l 2,621,357 12/52 Stuman 292303 3,001,664 9/61 Flint 2204 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOUSING FOR MOUNTING ON A DOOR, A SPACED PAIR OF HEADED STUD MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID HOUSING, WITH THE HEADED PORTIONS THEREOF SPACED FROM A SURFACE OF SAID HOUSING, AN ANNULAR RETAINER WASHER OF NYLON TYPE PASTIC MOUNTED ON EACH SAID STUD MEMBER, WITH THE HEADED PORTIONS OF SAID STUDS BEARING AGAINST PORTIONS OF SAID WASHERS, SAID WASHERS EACH COMPRISING DISHED RESILIENT ANNULAR MEMBERS INCLUDING AN ANNULAR APEX PORTION URGED INTO RESILIENT CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF SID HOUSING SURROUNDING SAID STUD AND CAM PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID APEX PORTIONS AND SLOPING GRADUALLY OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID SURFACE, AND A DECORATIVE COVER FOR SAID HOUSING INSERTABLE ENDWISE INTO ASSEMBLED POSITION OVER SAID HOUSING, SAID COVER HAVING A PAIR OF SLOTS SPACED TO CORRESPOND TO THE SPACING OF SAID STUDS OPENING ONTO AN EDGE OF SID COVER, THE TRANSVERSE SPACING OF THE WALLS EFINING SAID SLOTS BEING GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID STUD MEMBERS AND LESS THAN THE SPACING OF THE APEX PORTIONS OF SAID WASHERS. 